DHA sets school health policy
dubai — Children from private schools in Dubai will be encouraged to eat healthy, increase their physical activity and live a healthier life as the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launches its school health policy for the emirate.
The authority will implement programmes that aim to increase fruit and vegetable intake among students aged 7-15 years-old, encourage healthier food consumption, increase physical activity and decrease obesity — in line with Dubai plan 2021 and UAE vision 2021.
The comprehensive policy has three main key components — disease prevention and early detection, health information and research systems and encouraging students to lead a healthy lifestyle. As part of the strategy, the authority will launch 12 programmes based on these three components that are applicable for private schools.
Dr Manal Al Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA, said: “A holistic school health environment is needed to protect children and bring out the best in them. We designed this policy after carefully considering all these factors.”
Dr Nahed Monsef, director of health affairs department at the DHA said: “Immunisation is an important way of protecting children from some illnesses — including those that suddenly become a bigger threat.”
Dr Monsef, added: “While the authority already is in place with several initiatives, a wider five-year policy will be extremely comprehensive concentrating on three major themes — healthy lifestyle promotion, disease prevention and early detection and strengthening the health informatics system.”
Dr Ayesha Al Theeb from the school health department at the DHA, said: “For a successful school health policy, we need to ensure all stakeholders including parents and staff truly understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.”
A holistic school health environment is needed to protect children and bring out the best in them. We designed this policy after carefully considering all these factors.” Dr Manal Al Taryam, CEO, Primary Healthcare Sector, DHA